Alan Worth - 17th July 2010

Winchester City 0 Woking 7
Pre-Season Friendly
17 July 2010

Glenn Cockerill won’t have enjoyed the visit of his old club to the Denplan Stadium this afternoon as the Cards, playing some very attractive football, scored seven goals to demolish his Winchester City side. Woking looked good in every department, quick on the break, comfortable in possession and playing out from the back as they created plenty of chances for their impressive group of strikers.

The Cards started the afternoon with Matt Pegler in goal, a back four of David Ray, Joe McNerney, Daniel Sintim and Josh Casey, a midfield of Ollie Palmer, Sam Hurrell, Daryn Hennessy (a new triallist) and Ryan Watts, with Dave Gilroy and Andy Forbes up front.

After an early scare when an appeal from the Cards for offside was turned down and Pegler was forced to make a good save with his legs, Woking took the lead in the 4th minute. This time it was the Winchester defence calling for offside, as Ollie Palmer broke clear on the right. His cross found Dave Gilroy in the box and the forward unselfishly played in Ryan Watts, who neatly finished into an open goal.

Woking continued to dominate and Hennessy had the next opportunity on 17 minutes but his shot was straight at O’Rourke in the Winchester goal. At the back the two young centre backs coped well with the host's attack as Nollor in particular attempted to make life as difficult as possible with a number of “robust” challenges.

Gilroy had a half chance after good work from Hennessy and Forbes but couldn’t turn and get his shot away. At the other end Matt Pegler again had to react quickly to save at the feet of George. And on 26 minutes Pegler was spoken to by the referee after he was out quickly to challenge Nollor who, for once, had got the better of Sintim as he tried to control a bouncing ball. Pegler’s contact with the Winchester forward was negligible but a free kick was awarded. The wall did its job. From the resulting corner Butters’ downward header was dangerous but again Pegler made a decent save.

Two minutes later Woking might have doubled their lead as Gilroy set up Watts on the left and his cross-cum-shot was just gathered by a diving O’Rourke to thwart the onrushing Palmer. But on 33 minutes Woking were able to double their lead. Following a free kick taken by Josh Casey on the left the ball bobbled around inside the Winchester box before Andy Forbes finally tucked the ball away with a left foot curler.

With seven minutes remaining Joe McNerney was caught as he lingered on the ball inside the penalty area and was substituted with what looked like an ankle injury. Ricky Anane was brought on, with Andy Forbes again moving back to play as a central defender and Ollie Palmer joining Dave Gilroy in attack.

A further injury, this time a cut eye for triallist Josh Casey, resulting from yet another over-enthusiastic challenge from Nollor, meant that the Cards played out the last four minutes with ten men. This seemed to have no effect on their attacking intent as, on the stroke of half time, Dave Gilroy made it 3-0. He turned on a bouncing ball, looping it over his shoulder and volleying it into the top left of the net from twenty yards – an excellent way to the end the half.

Half-time: Winchester City 0 Woking 3

The second period started with nine changes to the side. Will Viner replaced Matt Pegler in goal, with Ricky Anane, Daniel Sintim, Ola Sogbanmu and Aswad Thomas across the back. Moses Ademola, Francis Quarm, Charlie Turnbull and Takumi Ake made up the midfield with Craig Faulconbridge and triallist Gomez Dali up front. Sam Cockerill featured in the second half for Winchester City.

And the new look side immediately carried on where their first half teammates had left off. Gomez Dali (pictured above) turned expertly on Charlie Turnbull’s through ball, showed great strength to see off a defender and the advancing keeper before rolling in the Cards’ fourth of the afternoon.

After ten minutes Craig Faulconbridge had the first of his chances with an overhead kick after good work from Aswad Thomas, Takumi Ake and Gomez Dali, the ball just clearing the cross bar. And a minute later Dali was through gain but this time his shot hit the post.

On 59 minutes the home side had their best chance of the afternoon. For once the lively Asajile skipped past Thomas and his good cross found Lynch unmarked with only Viner to beat. The Winchester forward’s header was straight at Viner. At the other end Ademola’s great run down the right ended with a cross into Craig Faulconbridge but the big forward’s first time shot was over the bar when he might have expected to do better.

With thirty minutes remaining Alan Inns made a first appearance for his new club, replacing Sintim at the back. His strength as a leader and organiser were evident immediately as he marshalled the defence and dominated with his headed clearances.

On 68 minutes Ademola was again the provider as his great cross from the right was met by Dali, who headed home to make it five nil. Five minutes later the triallist had his hat trick as he converted Ake’s cross from the left at the near post to make it six.

There was still time for Inns to show the threat he will be at set pieces as his header from an Ademola corner clipped the Winchester post before Craig Faulconbridge made it seven. Again it came from a corner played short and from the right edge of the box he smashed home a superb shot into the far corner. A great way to round off a very satisfying afternoon.

Graham Baker is left with plenty to think about as he reflects on this impressive pre-season performance. With Ross Worner set to make a start on Tuesday and Mark Ricketts and Jerome Maledon also back after attending a wedding there were plenty of triallists who appeared determined to put their names in the frame. I suspect we shall have to wait a little longer before we know who the manager decides to retain.